Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-04-02
"SELF OR BEARER, "
BY WALTER BESANT.
author of Gan Sorts and Conditions of
Men.' ''7He Captain Roon,.'' etc.

II have taught my son. sir" Mr.. ~hiurriage
explained, "to despis, the common cant
about honor, friendship, justice charity
and the rest of it. The world is full of crea-
lures who live By eating each other. There
is no other "a to live. We come into the
city every day to eat each other. and to de.
fend ourselves against those who would eat
lis. The way is to make as much money as
we possibly can As for honor, it means
that you must play fair where it is your in
terest, and friendship means putting other
people on to a good thing when you can't get
it for yourself. and in exchange tor another
good thing. Benevolence means keeping the
people you are eating up in good temper.
Dick quite understands the world. There is
no nonsense about Dick. Justice means
having all you can get-all that the law al.
lows-to the las, penny, and never forgiving
anybody. a made the boy thoroughly
understand these principles. He begins
life with q clear head, and no sentimental
humbug."
1t is not often that a boys views are thus
based upon the first elements of life and so
ciety, and Dick certainly began life with
great advantages.
'Unluckllv for Dick, he was not allowed to
put these principles into practice in an indie
pendent way. Mr.. Murridge regarded his
business as a thing to be kept together, and
handed down as a property to his son. He,
therefore. without any question as to Dick S
aptitude for genealogical research and the
art of clHthing a man with a pedigree, re-
novel him from school at an early age and
placed him in his " back Office, where he
gave hin copying work. You cannot posi-
bly, carry on any of these beautiful precepts
and mayin,s on mara nopvipr u-orl-
Unfortunately, too, Mr.. Murridge could
never bring himself to trust his son. He
was a jealous mater, who would let no one
into his secrets but himself, and worked, like
the mole, underground. So that, though
Dick was now Extraordinarily. he knew no
more about his fathers business than he did
at sixteen, when he first took his seat in the
back office-excepu that his father would
talk over tho successful conduct Of a case
when it was completed, especially if there
had been any difficulties or sharp practice in
it. He did not dare to complain, but his
position made him continually grumpy. 1t
Is not a good sign for a young mans future
when he hes q secret grudge agains;
his father, and when the father, absorbed in
his own business. never stops to consider
what his son is doing and how he regards
his own position and work.
Dick was now drawing the very hand
some salary Of seventy five pounds a year,
with breakfast, lodging, washing, supper,
if he wanted it, and his Sunday dinner. He
was, therefore, rich Il; clerks at three-and-
twenty go. We may allow him eighteen
pence a day for his dinner, Or ten shillings a
week, which comes to tw%enty-six pounds a
year; fifteen pounds a year for his dress,
which is not extravagant; ten pounds for a
fortnight's holiday iii tie summer, and five
pounds 4 year for his daily omnibus. There
renamed the handsome sum of nineteen
poAnd a year, Or rathcr more than a shil-
ling q day, to cover bis amusements and his
petty expenses. How many young fellows
can afford a shilling a day for pleasure?
Dick had so few pleasures that he must
have been saving money. He was a very quiet
young MANSIONS of mastcrful fathers gen
orally archie had taught lumself to play The
piano a little, and to draw a Attic. but Ian
guldly. When he was at home he spent
most of the time at the DID piano, which had
been his mothers. When he was at the Of
flee he spent most of the time in drawing.
He had no taste for reading, he seemed to
care nothing for the things which form the
pleasure Of so many young men: he never
went to the theatres or music halls; he had
no bicycle, belonged to no athletic club; and,
except one or two old .chool-fellows, he had
nc friends. Yet of late he had got into the
habit of spending every evening out. Where
he went, or what he did, his father did not
inquire.
A quiet young man, who seemed to he got.
ting through his youth at a regular, even
pace, turning neither to the right hand nor to
the left, picking no fruits or flowers. and run
ming af,er no butterflies, caught by none of
the Jack o'-.anterns which led astray SO
many Of the Loncon% youth-his father should
have been satisfied with such a son.
But be was not. Mr.. Murridgc was disap,
pointed that his son had no passion for any
thing. D ok was no fool. but he did his
work like Il machine: he took no interest i'll
his work; he was sp.rirless.
Now, a Young nan who is not a fool can.
mot be, though he may appear to be, a ma.
chine. Parents who nave such sons a. Dick
should remember this provcrb. which is one
of the very few omitted from Solomon's
unique eolicction-how good il is for the
world tllat this king collected proverbs in
stead Of oil PhTnician ware and prehistoric
pots! You Will presently discover that DicA
was no exception to this proverb.
All A.